UK vehicle manufacturing output was up 12.1% in the first half of 2012 despite a 2.2% dip in June, according to automotive association SMMT half year review.
The UK produced 812,212 vehicles in the first six months of 2012, which is an increase of 12%. However, production in the month of June failed to continue the positive trend set by the previous five months with a reduction of 2.2%.
The findings come from the SMMT’s half year report which revealed that car manufacturing rose 14.1% in the first half of the year but declined by 0.7% in June.
Cars, vans and lorries used for commercial purposes – such as taxis and goods transportation – have not shared in this success. The has been an 8.7% dip in the manufacture of commercial vehicles from January to June and an even bigger drop of 19.7% in the latter month.
Exports of CVs, on the other hand, were up 12.2% in June, bringing the half year export figure to 34,188 – a 4.9% decrease overall.
Whilst car exports only enjoyed a 0.1% increase in June, the figure is up 13.7% for the first half of the year to 625,314.
Paul Everitt, chief executive at SMMT, commented that despite a positive six months, the dip in June may be the start of a bumpy road.
“Car production performed strongly during the first half of 2012. The £5.8bn investment in the UK automotive industry in the last two years provides long-term growth opportunities, but weakness in European demand may make the next few months a little bumpy.”
